Bucknell Bison vs Syracuse Orange Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Bucknell vs Syracuse NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Syracuse.

Bucknell vs Syracuse Prediction

Betting on today's Bison and Orange game? Catch the action at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY, as the Orange hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on CW. The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and Syracuse is favored by -12.5 against Bucknell in a non-conference matchup.

Bucknell vs. Syracuse Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Bucknell Bison at Syracuse Orange
Where: Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome
Date: Saturday, December 28th
Betting Odds SYRA -12.5, BUCK +580 | SYRA -880 O/U 148.5

Bison Preview: Do the Bison Have What it Takes on the Road?

Bucknell Bison Recent Game/Games

Bucknell dropped to 4-8 on the season after an 86-65 road loss to Gonzaga on Saturday. The Bison were heavy underdogs, entering the game at +34, but managed to cover the spread.

Trailing 38-27 at halftime, Bucknell allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 38. The game’s total points of 151 fell just short of the 154.5 O/U line.

Bison Offense Breakdown

In their last game, Bucknell put up 65 points, shooting 40.7% from the field. They hit 32.3% from three-point range, making 10 of 31 attempts, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 49.2%.

Graham Ike led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 73.3% overall. Noah Williamson added 16 points, while Ben Gregg and Josh Bascoe each contributed 14 points, with Bascoe also grabbing 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

Bison Team Defense

Despite sending Bucknell to the line just nine times, the Bison still gave up 86 points, with the opponent shooting 47% from the field. Bucknell's defense struggled inside, allowing 61% shooting on two-pointers.

From beyond the arc, Bucknell's opponent hit 12 of 35 threes, good for 34%. The Bison also gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.

Orange Preview: Can Syracuse Grab a Win at Home?

Syracuse fell to 5-6 on the season after a tough 87-60 home loss to Maryland on Saturday, December 21st. The Orange were +14 underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 147, just under the O/U line of 153.5.

Syracuse struggled early, trailing 43-17 at halftime. While they managed to score 43 points in the 2nd half, they allowed 44 points to Maryland, preventing any chance of a comeback.

Orange Offense Breakdown

Syracuse's offense put up 60 points in their last game, shooting 43.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, thanks in part to hitting 8 of 16 from beyond the arc, good for 50% from three-point range.

Selton Miguel led the way with 24 points, shooting 72.7% overall and 66.7% from deep, connecting on 6 of 9 three-point attempts. Ja'Kobi Gillespie added 17 points and 11 assists, shooting 60% from three-point range.

Orange Team Defense

Syracuse’s defense struggled, giving up 87 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 43% from the field. They held the opposition to 40% on two-point attempts, with 17 made shots out of 42.

From beyond the arc, Syracuse allowed 8 threes on 16 attempts, a 50% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line just twice, where they made both attempts. Syracuse gave up 6 offensive rebounds.

Bison vs Orange Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past three road matchups, Bucknell has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 64 per game. The team went 0-3 overall in these games.
Through their last ten home games, Syracuse has an ATS record of just 4-5-1. However, their overall record was 3-7 while averaging 72 points per game.
Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Bison have gone 2-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-3.
Against the spread, the Orange have put together of 2-3 in their last five games as the betting favorite. In these same games, they went 5-0 straight up.